Reinterpreting Korea

February 2011

One of the best ways to get to know a city is to take a city bus. It was rush hour when I left the office. The street was busy and the city lights were starting to lighten up the busy street of Seoul. I was tired. But I needed to move from Gwang hwa moon region to Gang nam region. Geographically, I was crossing the Han River to reach my destination which was far. Yes, Seoul is quite big. Plus rush hour crossing those two regions where it has the highest traffic was a nightmare. No explanation needed to explain the heavy traffic at those two regions.

I was tired after my work and just ready to reach my destination. I wasn't expecting anything else. But that is when I saw Seoul. Seoul all over again. I mean, really, Seoul was big. Not just because of the traffic, but I couldn't help myself but gasph at the energy Seoul city had. It was alive and bright.



I have a short story that I tell my friends lately as comparison. In the past few years, each morning I start off my hour with a jog or long walk. In Geneva, an hour would be a full walk around the lake of Geneva. To make sure I make it a full hour, I had to walk far far away from the main center of city, so by the time I make my turn back toward the city center Geneva city was a little dot. And I would look back with a smile. But in Korea, for just an hour, I walk around my apartment village three times. Yes, just three times!! If I had to do something similaar in Seoul then, like walking across the Han River, that would be about a good couple hours. And Han River is only a small part of Seoul.


That was just the start. As our bus climbed over the Namsan Mountain and passed the beautiful Han River, I saw it and I felt it. Seoul, seoul and Seoul's soul. It was exciting. It was growing. And it was dynamic. I couldn't help myself smiling as I looked down at this city. What excited me the most was I was here. Living here, right now.

And still continuing to reinterpret Korea, my Korea.

Curious? You will see when you come.
Be my guest.

Draw Hope

Tongyong, South Korea

There are many ways to share hope. You can give hope by contributing, sharing, giving, and even..drawing! This is how the community of Tongyong citizens did for the elderly neighborhood town called Dong Pi Rang.

Dong Pi Rang is a small region on top of the hill full of poor elderly people who live mostly in small rooms. As the city continue to grow, because of its rising tourism and regional development, the regional real estate representatives tried to kick them out. In fact, they have already started tarrying down few houses on top of the hill. It was a good deal for the real estate people since this was a good place where you could see the beautiful mountain and ocean scenery of Tongyong. Yet, hope was there.



A group of people started volunteering. One by one. Artists, students, village people, and more started to gather around this region to give hope. It was small, but brilliant. What they started to do was drawing. Drawing! It was a wonderful project indeed. As people started to draw cute and illustrations along the empty and shallow walls of Dong Pi Rang hill town, the hill was no longer a dark village but became one of the most attractive and colorful place in the city. More contributed and sooner or later..by the time we visited at least...there was a wall full of illustrations along each path way you walked.

I was walking up the hill of this region for at least 20 minutes or more and the illustration never stopped. In fact, now looking closely they all had different themes. But what was all common is that they were brightly colored full of happy spirit. And now this region is one of the "must visit" places when you visit the city.

Each illustration goes beyond the imagination. And each illustration is drawn by different teams of people who re-draw and re-decorate this place to refurnish hope.

The illustration is beautiful. But what amazes me is how they made use of it with the reality. Compare this one with the one below.

Yes, behind the white bared windows drawn is this illustration.

Draw hope.

I smile again.

Busan City

Photo Essay 3

Busan City
South Korea
Febuary 3, 2011


Busan city is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul. Located in the South of South Korea, the city has a population of around 3.6 million. It is also the largest port city in South Korea, and the fifth largest port in the world.

With its beautiful beach scenery close by, Busan city has experience hosting international events such as the 2002 Asian Games, and APEC in 2005. In 2005 November, the city officially announced its bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympic Games too.

So what is in Busan other than the beach and such international hosting history? You'll be surprised but the city is also full of rich and well dressed people. As I walk the street, I'm surprised constantly how well dressed Busan people are. There are nice cafes and restaurants that I would usually expect in Seoul, and many are sitting enjoying their typical meals here. The city is crowded with foreigners too. As you walk the street it's common to see Indian, Caucasian, and even Japanese or Chinese.

It was good to come for a relaxing vacation over the Korean new year.
Busan is a city indeed, and a relaxing one to enjoy for food, culture, and nature.
If you have a weekend to spend, you should book your ticket to Busan please.

The night view of Busan beach is just beautiful

Flying in front of Gwang An Lee

Cafes near the beach

Good Morning, Beautiful Hae un dae

Walking along the Kwang an Lee beach

Odusan Unification Observatory

Photo Essay 2
February 1, 2011

Odusan Unification Observatory in Paju city
파주, 오두산 오두산 통일전망대
http://www.jmd.co.kr/

The Odusan Unification Observatory is as close as most South Korean civilians could get to North Korea. The Panmunjom DMZ (demilitarized zone) is the closest one could reach to see North Korea from South Korea and vice verse. But in South Korea, only foreigners are permitted to visit the DMZ, which makes the Odusan Unification Observatory one of the only places South Koreans a rare peak at the forbidden neigbhor.

Located on top of Mt. Odusan, the stone building first opened on September 8, 1992. And just across the Injim River and Han River, you can see the forbiden land. Unlike DMZ's intense atmosphere, the Odusan Unification Observatory is calm and silent. Yet, just a closer look out there is the tip of North Korea.

Will there be a day soon that we will go across that river....
That land that is so close and, yet, so far away...

The Icy Injim River

The blue mark is where the South Observatory is.

The red mark is where the North is.

That is how close we are.

The view from the Observatory


Inside the Observatory



List of countries that participated in Korean War